A device for converting chemical energy to electricity is provided, the device comprising a high temperature fuelcell with the ability for partially oxidizing and completely reforming fuel, and a low temperature fuelcell juxtaposed to said high temperature fuelcell so as to utilize remaining reformed fuel from the high temperature fuelcell. Also provided is a method for producing electricity comprising directing fuel to a first fuelcell, completely oxidizing a first portion of the fuel and partially oxidizing a second portion of the fuel, directing the second fuel portion to a second fuelcell, allowing the first fuelcell to utilize the first portion of the fuel to produce electricity; and allowing the second fuelcell to utilize the second portion of the fuel to produce electricity.

A fuelcell arrangement is provided wherein cylindrical cells of the solid oxide electrolyte type are arranged in planar arrays where the cells within a plane are parallel. Planes of cells are stacked with cells of adjacent planes perpendicular to one another. Air is provided to the interior of the cells through feed tubes which pass through a preheat chamber. Fuel is provided to the fuelcells through a channel in the center of the cell stack; the fuel then passes the exterior of the cells and combines with the oxygen-depleted air in the preheat chamber.

A fuelcell arrangement is provided wherein cylindrical cells of the solid oxide electrolyte type are arranged in planar arrays where the cells within a plane are parallel. Planes of cells are stacked with cells of adjacent planes perpendicular to one another. Air is provided to the interior of the cells through feed tubes which pass through a preheat chamber. Fuel is provided to the fuelcells through a channel in the center of the cell stack; the fuel then passes the exterior of the cells and combines with the oxygen-depleted air in the preheat chamber. 3 figs.

An ambient temperature, liquid feed, direct methanol fuelcell device is under development. A metal barrier layer was used to block methanol crossover from the anode to the cathode side while still allowing for the transport of protons from the anode to the cathode. A direct methanol fuelcell (DMFC) is an electrochemical engine that converts chemical energy into clean electrical power by the direct oxidation of methanol at the fuelcell anode. This direct use of a liquid fuel eliminates the need for a reformer to convert the fuel to hydrogen before it is fed into the fuelcell.

CellsFuelcells are the most energy efficient devices for extracting power from fuels. Capable of running on a variety of fuels, including hydrogen, natural gas, and biogas, fuelcells can provide clean power for applications ranging from less than a watt to multiple megawatts. Our transportation-including personal vehicles, trucks, buses, marine vessels, and other specialty vehicles such as lift trucks and ground support equipment, as well as auxiliary power units for traditional

The direct electrochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons in solid oxide fuelcells, to generate greater power densities at lower temperatures without carbon deposition. The performance obtained is comparable to that of fuelcells used for hydrogen, and is achieved by using novel anode composites at low operating temperatures. Such solid oxide fuelcells, regardless of fuel source or operation, can be configured advantageously using the structural geometries of this invention.

A direct organic fuelcell includes a formic acid fuel solution having between about 10% and about 95% formic acid. The formic acid is oxidized at an anode. The anode may include a Pt/Pd catalyst that promotes the direct oxidation of the formic acid via a direct reaction path that does not include formation of a CO intermediate.

Greenhouses are a major application of low-temperature geothermal resources. In virtually all operating systems, the geothermal fluid is used in a hot water heating system to meet 100% of both the peak and annual heating requirements of the structure. This strategy is a result of the relatively low costs associated with the development of most US geothermal direct-use resources and past tax credit programs which penalized systems using any conventional fuel sources. Increasingly, greenhouse operations will encounter limitations in available geothermal resource flow due either to production or disposal considerations. As a result, it will be necessary to operate additions at reduced water temperatures reflective of the effluent from the existing operations. Water temperature has a strong influence on heating system design. Greenhouse operators tend to have unequivocal preferences regarding heating system equipment. Many growers, particularly cut flower and bedding plant operators, prefer the {open_quotes}bare tube{close_quotes} type heating system. This system places small diameter plastic tubes under the benches or adjacent to the plants. Hot water is circulated through the tubes providing heat to the plants and the air in the greenhouse. Advantages include the ability to provide the heat directly to the plants, low cost, simple installation and the lack of a requirement for fans to circulate air. The major disadvantage of the system is poor performance at low (<140{degrees}F) water temperatures, particularly in cold climates. Under these conditions, the quantity of tubing required to meet the peak heating load is substantial. In fact, under some conditions, it is simply impractical to install sufficient tubing in the greenhouse to meet the peak heating load.

High temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuelcell generators which allow controlled leakage among plural chambers in a sealed housing. Depleted oxidant and fuel are directly reacted in one chamber to combust remaining fuel and preheat incoming reactants. The cells are preferably electrically arranged in a series-parallel configuration.

Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuelcell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuelcell generator has a plurality of individual fuelcells in a refractory container, the fuelcells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream I and spent fuel stream II. Spent fuel stream I is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream I and exhaust stream II, and exhaust stream I is vented. Exhaust stream II is mixed with spent fuel stream II to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuelcells. Also disclosed is an improved apparatus which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within such a solid oxide fuelcell generator. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber within the refractory container, means for diverting a portion of the partially spent fuel stream to the mixing chamber, means for diverting a portion of exhaust gas to the mixing chamber where it is mixed with the portion of the partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream, means for injecting the reformable gaseous fuel into the recycle stream, and means for circulating the recycle stream back to the fuelcells.

Disclosed is an improved method of reforming a gaseous reformable fuel within a solid oxide fuelcell generator, wherein the solid oxide fuelcell generator has a plurality of individual fuelcells in a refractory container, the fuelcells generating a partially spent fuel stream and a partially spent oxidant stream. The partially spent fuel stream is divided into two streams, spent fuel stream 1 and spent fuel stream 2. Spent fuel stream 1 is burned with the partially spent oxidant stream inside the refractory container to produce an exhaust stream. The exhaust stream is divided into two streams, exhaust stream 1 and exhaust stream 2, and exhaust stream 1 is vented. Exhaust stream 2 is mixed with spent fuel stream 2 to form a recycle stream. The recycle stream is mixed with the gaseous reformable fuel within the refractory container to form a fuel stream which is supplied to the fuelcells. Also disclosed is an improved apparatus which permits the reforming of a reformable gaseous fuel within such a solid oxide fuelcell generator. The apparatus comprises a mixing chamber within the refractory container, means for diverting a portion of the partially spent fuel stream to the mixing chamber, means for diverting a portion of exhaust gas to the mixing chamber where it is mixed with the portion of the partially spent fuel stream to form a recycle stream, means for injecting the reformable gaseous fuel into the recycle stream, and means for circulating the recycle stream back to the fuelcells. 1 fig.

A molten electrolyte fuelcell with an array of stacked cells and cell enclosures isolating each cell except for access to gas manifolds for the supply of fuel or oxidant gas or the removal of waste gas, the cell enclosures collectively providing an enclosure for the array and effectively avoiding the problems of electrolyte migration and the previous need for compression of stack components, the fuelcell further including an inner housing about and in cooperation with the array enclosure to provide a manifold system with isolated chambers for the supply and removal of gases. An external insulated housing about the inner housing provides thermal isolation to the cell components.

A molten electrolyte fuelcell is disclosed with an array of stacked cells and cell enclosures isolating each cell except for access to gas manifolds for the supply of fuel or oxidant gas or the removal of waste gas. The cell enclosures collectively provide an enclosure for the array and effectively avoid the problems of electrolyte migration and the previous need for compression of stack components. The fuelcell further includes an inner housing about and in cooperation with the array enclosure to provide a manifold system with isolated chambers for the supply and removal of gases. An external insulated housing about the inner housing provides thermal isolation to the cell components.

This is a review of the US (and international) fuelcell development for the stationary power generation market. Besides DOE, GRI, and EPRI sponsorship, the US fuelcell program has over 40% cost-sharing from the private sector. Support is provided by user groups with over 75 utility and other end-user members. Objectives are to develop and demonstrate cost-effective fuelcell power generation which can initially be commercialized into various market applications using natural gas fuel by the year 2000. Types of fuelcells being developed include PAFC (phosphoric acid), MCFC (molten carbonate), and SOFC (solid oxide); status of each is reported. Potential international applications are reviewed also. Fuelcells are viewed as a force in dispersed power generation, distributed power, cogeneration, and deregulated industry. Specific fuelcell attributes are discussed: Fuelcells promise to be one of the most reliable power sources; they are now being used in critical uninterruptible power systems. They need hydrogen which can be generated internally from natural gas, coal gas, methanol landfill gas, or other fuels containing hydrocarbons. Finally, fuelcell development and market applications in Japan are reviewed briefly.

in the FuelCells in the States States State and Regional State and Regional Initiatives Working Group Initiatives Working Group July 12, 2006 July 12, 2006 Jennifer Gangi Jennifer Gangi Program Director Program Director FuelCells 2000 FuelCells 2000 FuelCells 2000 / BTI FuelCells 2000 / BTI U.S. nonprofit organization U.S. nonprofit organization Established in 1993 Established in 1993 Promotes fuelcells from public Promotes fuelcells from public interest perspective. interest perspective.

In an effort to promote clean energy projects and aid in the commercialization of new fuelcell technologies the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) initiated a FuelCell Demonstration Program in 1999 with six month deployments of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) non-commercial Beta model systems at partnering sites throughout Long Island. These projects facilitated significant developments in the technology, providing operating experience that allowed the manufacturer to produce fuelcells that were half the size of the Beta units and suitable for outdoor installations. In 2001, LIPA embarked on a large-scale effort to identify and develop measures that could improve the reliability and performance of future fuelcell technologies for electric utility applications and the concept to establish a fuelcell farm (Farm) of 75 units was developed. By the end of October of 2001, 75 Lorax 2.0 fuelcells had been installed at the West Babylon substation on Long Island, making it the first fuelcell demonstration of its kind and size anywhere in the world at the time. Designed to help LIPA study the feasibility of using fuelcells to operate in parallel with LIPA's electric grid system, the Farm operated 120 fuelcells over its lifetime of over 3 years including 3 generations of Plug Power fuelcells (Lorax 2.0, Lorax 3.0, Lorax 4.5). Of these 120 fuelcells, 20 Lorax 3.0 units operated under this Award from June 2002 to September 2004. In parallel with the operation of the Farm, LIPA recruited government and commercial/industrial customers to demonstrate fuelcells as on-site distributed generation. From December 2002 to February 2005, 17 fuelcells were tested and monitored at various customer sites throughout Long Island. The 37 fuelcells operated under this Award produced a total of 712,635 kWh. As fuelcell technology became more mature, performance improvements included a 1% increase in system efficiency. Including equipment, design, fuel, maintenance, installation

A miniature power source assembly capable of providing portable electricity is provided. A preferred embodiment of the power source assembly employing a fuel tank, fuel pump and control, air pump, heat management system, power chamber, power conditioning and power storage. The power chamber utilizes a ceramic fuelcell to produce the electricity. Incoming hydro carbon fuel is automatically reformed within the power chamber. Electrochemical combustion of hydrogen then produces electricity.

A solid oxide fuelcell generator has a plenum containing at least two rows of spaced apart, annular, axially elongated fuelcells. An electrical conductor extending between adjacent rows of fuelcells connects the fuelcells of one row in parallel with each other and in series with the fuelcells of the adjacent row. 5 figures.

A solid oxide fuelcell generator has a plenum containing at least two rows of spaced apart, annular, axially elongated fuelcells. An electrical conductor extending between adjacent rows of fuelcells connects the fuelcells of one row in parallel with each other and in series with the fuelcells of the adjacent row.

Demonstrations Early FuelCell Market Demonstrations Photo of fuelcell backup power system in outdoor setting. Photo of fuelcell forklifts in warehouse setting. Fuelcell backup power systems offer longer continuous runtimes and greater durability than traditional batteries in harsh outdoor environments. For specialty vehicles such as forklifts, fuelcells can be a cost-competitive alternative to traditional lead-acid batteries. Learn More Subscribe to the biannual FuelCell and Hydrogen

Analysis FuelCell Technology Status Analysis Get Involved Fuelcell developers interested in collaborating with NREL on fuelcell technology status analysis should send an email to NREL's Technology Validation Team at techval@nrel.gov. NREL's analysis of fuelcell technology provides objective and credible information about new fuelcell technologies with a focus on performance, durability, and price. As demand for fuelcells grows, U.S. manufacturers are developing these technologies for a

Stationary Power/Energy Conversion Efficiency/GeothermalGeothermal Tara Camacho-Lopez 2016-03-16T19:31:15+00:00 geothermal_leamstest Sandia's work in drilling technology is aimed at reducing the cost and risk associated with drilling in harsh, subterranean environments. The historical focus of the drilling research has been directed at significantly expanding the nation's utilization of geothermal energy. This focus in geothermal related drilling research is the search for practical solutions

Arrangements of stacks of fuelcells and ducts, for fuelcells operating with separate fuel, oxidant and coolant streams. An even number of stacks are arranged generally end-to-end in a loop. Ducts located at the juncture of consecutive stacks of the loop feed oxidant or fuel to or from the two consecutive stacks, each individual duct communicating with two stacks. A coolant fluid flows from outside the loop, into and through cooling channels of the stack, and is discharged into an enclosure duct formed within the loop by the stacks and seals at the junctures at the stacks.

The moisture content and temperature of hydrogen and oxygen gases is regulated throughout traverse of the gases in a fuelcell incorporating a solid polymer membrane. At least one of the gases traverses a first flow field adjacent the solid polymer membrane, where chemical reactions occur to generate an electrical current. A second flow field is located sequential with the first flow field and incorporates a membrane for effective water transport. A control fluid is then circulated adjacent the second membrane on the face opposite the fuelcell gas wherein moisture is either transported from the control fluid to humidify a fuel gas, e.g., hydrogen, or to the control fluid to prevent excess water buildup in the oxidizer gas, e.g., oxygen. Evaporation of water into the control gas and the control gas temperature act to control the fuelcell gas temperatures throughout the traverse of the fuelcell by the gases.

Cell 101 Don Hoffman Don Hoffman Ship Systems & Engineering Research Division March 2011 Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. FuelCell Operation * A FuelCell is an electrochemical power source * It supplies electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically without combustion. * It is configured like a battery with anode and cathode. * Unlike a battery, it does not run down or require recharging and will produce electricity and will

The rapid development and integration of the Internet into the mainstream of professional life provides the fuelcell industry with the opportunity to share new ideas with unprecedented capabilities. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Morgantown Energy Technology Center (METC) has undertaken the task to maintain a FuelCell Forum on the Internet. Here, members can exchange ideas and information pertaining to fuelcell technologies. The purpose of this forum is to promote a better understanding of fuelcell concepts, terminology, processes, and issues relating to commercialization of fuelcell power technology. The Forum was developed by METC to provide those interested with fuelcell conference information for its current concept of exchanging ideas and information pertaining to fuelcells. Last August, the Forum expanded to an on-line and world-wide network. There are 250 members, and membership is growing at a rate of several new subscribers per week. The forum currently provides updated conference information and interactive information exchange. Forum membership is encouraged from utilities, industry, universities, and government. Because of the public nature of the internet, business sensitive, confidential, or proprietary information should not be placed on this system. The Forum is unmoderated; therefore, the views and opinions of authors expressed in the forum do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U.S. government or METC.

The present invention discloses an improved fuelcell utilizing an ion transporting membrane having a catalytic anode and a catalytic cathode bonded to opposite sides of the membrane, a wet-proofed carbon sheet in contact with the cathode surface opposite that bonded to the membrane and a bipolar separator positioned in electrical contact with the carbon sheet and the anode of the adjacent fuelcell. Said bipolar separator and carbon sheet forming an oxidant flowpath, wherein the improvement comprises an electrically conductive screen between and in contact with the wet-proofed carbon sheet and the bipolar separator improving the product water removal system of the fuelcell.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for eliminating the chemical energy of fuel remaining in a fuelcell generator when the electrical power output of the fuelcell generator is terminated. During a generator shut down condition, electrically resistive elements are automatically connected across the fuelcell generator terminals in order to draw current, thereby depleting the fuel

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can be produced from clean, diverse and abundant domestic energy resources. Fuelcells use the energy from hydrogen in a highly efficient way -- with only water and heat as byproducts.

This invention is directed to a metal-air fuelcell where the consumable metal anode is movably positioned in the cell and an expandable enclosure, or bladder, is used to press the anode into contact with separating spacers between the cell electrodes. The bladder may be depressurized to allow replacement of the anode when consumed.

A fuelcell assembly comprising at least one metallic component, at least one ceramic component and a structure disposed between the metallic component and the ceramic component. The structure is configured to have a lower stiffness compared to at least one of the metallic component and the ceramic component, to accommodate a difference in strain between the metallic component and the ceramic component of the fuelcell assembly.

A bilayer or trilayer composite ion exchange membrane suitable for use in a fuelcell. The composite membrane has a high equivalent weight thick layer in order to provide sufficient strength and low equivalent weight surface layers for improved electrical performance in a fuelcell. In use, the composite membrane is provided with electrode surface layers. The composite membrane can be composed of a sulfonic fluoropolymer in both core and surface layers.

A bilayer or trilayer composite ion exchange membrane is described suitable for use in a fuelcell. The composite membrane has a high equivalent weight thick layer in order to provide sufficient strength and low equivalent weight surface layers for improved electrical performance in a fuelcell. In use, the composite membrane is provided with electrode surface layers. The composite membrane can be composed of a sulfonic fluoropolymer in both core and surface layers.

FuelCellsFuelCells A fuelcell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or another fuel to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. If hydrogen is the fuel, electricity, water, and heat are the only products. Fuelcells are unique in terms of the variety of their potential applications; they can provide power for systems as large as a utility power station and as small as a laptop computer. Why Study FuelCellsFuelcells can be used in a wide range of applications, including transportation,

Fuelcells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. Unlike batteries, fuelcells continuously generate electricity, as long as a source of fuel is supplied. Moreover, fuelcells do not burn fuel, making the process quiet, pollution-free and two to three times more efficient than combustion. Fuelcell systems can be a truly zero-emission source of electricity, if the hydrogen is produced from non-polluting sources. Global concerns about climate change, energy security, and air pollution are driving demand for fuelcell technology. More than 630 companies and laboratories in the United States are investing $1 billion a year in fuelcells or fuelcell component technologies. This report provides an overview of trends in the fuelcell industry and markets, including product shipments, market development, and corporate performance. It also provides snapshots of select fuelcell companies, including general.

An apparatus and method are disclosed for eliminating the chemical energy of fuel remaining in a pressurized fuelcell generator (10) when the electrical power output of the fuelcell generator is terminated during transient operation, such as a shutdown; where, two electrically resistive elements (two of 28, 53, 54, 55) at least one of which is connected in parallel, in association with contactors (26, 57, 58, 59), a multi-point settable sensor relay (23) and a circuit breaker (24), are automatically connected across the fuelcell generator terminals (21, 22) at two or more contact points, in order to draw current, thereby depleting the fuel inventory in the generator.

Provides an overview of fuelcell technology and research projects. Discusses the basic workings of fuelcells and their system components, main fuelcell types, their characteristics, and their development status, as well as a discussion of potential fuelcell applications.

Cells » FuelCell Systems FuelCell Systems The design of fuelcell systems is complex, and can vary significantly depending upon fuelcell type and application. However, several basic components are found in many fuelcell systems: Fuelcell stack Fuel processor Power conditioners Air compressors Humidifiers FuelCell Stack The fuelcell stack is the heart of a fuelcell power system. It generates electricity in the form of direct current (DC) from electro-chemical reactions that take place in

A fuelcell system is comprised of a fuelcell module including sub-stacks of series-connected fuelcells, the sub-stacks being held together in a stacked arrangement with cold plates of a cooling means located between the sub-stacks to function as electrical terminals. The anode and cathode terminals of the sub-stacks are connected in parallel by means of the coolant manifolds which electrically connect selected cold plates. The system may comprise a plurality of the fuelcell modules connected in series. The sub-stacks are designed to provide a voltage output equivalent to the desired voltage demand of a low voltage, high current DC load such as an electrolytic cell to be driven by the fuelcell system. This arrangement in conjunction with switching means can be used to drive a DC electrical load with a total voltage output selected to match that of the load being driven. This arrangement eliminates the need for expensive voltage regulation equipment.

Cells Photo of scientific equipment in a laboratory setting. NREL scientist applies catalyst layer to a fuelcell through a spray process that delivers a more even distribution of material, improving performance. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL What is a fuelcell? A single fuelcell consists of an electrolyte sandwiched between two electrodes. Bipolar plates on either side of the cell help distribute gases and serve as current collectors. Depending on the application, a fuelcell stack may

Fuelcells are being developed to power cleaner, more fuel efficient automobiles. The fuelcell technology favored by many automobile manufacturers is PEM fuelcells operating with H2 from liquid fuels like gasoline and diesel. A key challenge to the commercialization of PEM fuelcell based powertrains is the lack of sufficiently small and inexpensive fuel processors. Improving the performance and cost of the fuel processor will require the development of better performing catalysts, new reactor designs and better integration of the various fuel processing components. These components and systems could also find use in natural gas fuel processing for stationary, distributed generation applications. Prototype fuel processors were produced, and evaluated against the Department of Energy technical targets. Significant advances were made by integrating low-cost microreactor systems, high activity catalysts, π-complexation adsorbents, and high efficiency microcombustor/microvaporizers developed at the University of Michigan. The microreactor system allowed (1) more efficient thermal coupling of the fuel processor operations thereby minimizing heat exchanger requirements, (2) improved catalyst performance due to optimal reactor temperature profiles and increased heat and mass transport rates, and (3) better cold-start and transient responses.

A catalytic organic fuel processing apparatus, which can be used in a fuelcell power system, contains within a housing a catalyst chamber, a variable speed fan, and a combustion chamber. Vaporized organic fuel is circulated by the fan past the combustion chamber with which it is in indirect heat exchange relationship. The heated vaporized organic fuel enters a catalyst bed where it is converted into a desired product such as hydrogen needed to power the fuelcell. During periods of high demand, air is injected upstream of the combustion chamber and organic fuel injection means to burn with some of the organic fuel on the outside of the combustion chamber, and thus be in direct heat exchange relation with the organic fuel going into the catalyst bed.

A fuelcell system including a fuel reformer heated by a catalytic combustor fired by anode and cathode effluents. The combustor includes a turbulator section at its input end for intimately mixing the anode and cathode effluents before they contact the combustors primary catalyst bed. The turbulator comprises at least one porous bed of mixing media that provides a tortuous path therethrough for creating turbulent flow and intimate mixing of the anode and cathode effluents therein.

Fuelcell stack configurations having elongated polygonal cross-sectional shapes and gaskets at the peripheral faces to which flow manifolds are sealingly affixed. Process channels convey a fuel and an oxidant through longer channels, and a cooling fluid is conveyed through relatively shorter cooling passages. The polygonal structure preferably includes at least two right angles, and the faces of the stack are arranged in opposite parallel pairs.

FuelCell Corporation n SNL researcher Cy Fujimoto demonstrates his new flexible hydrocarbon polymer electrolyte mem- brane, which could be a key factor in realizing a hydrogen car. The close partnership between Sandia and AFCC has resulted in a very unique and promising technology for future automotive applications. Dr. Rajeev Vohra Manager R&D AFCC Hydrocarbon Membrane Fuels the Suc- cess of Future Generation Vehicles While every car manufacturer, such as GM and Ford, has developed their

Careers In FuelCell Technologies Existing and emerging fuelcell applications hold large job growth potential. Fuelcells are among the promising technologies that are expected to transform our energy sector. They represent highly efficient and fuel- flexible technologies that offer diverse benefits. For example, fuelcells can be used in a wide range of applications- from portable electronics, to combined heat and power (CHP) units used for distributed electricity generation, to passenger

green h y d r o g e n f u e l i n g POWer FuelCells Go live A closer look at the requirements to create a hydrogen-based warehouse M anagers of distribution centers are always on the lookout for new ways to gain competitive advantage through increased operational efficiency, productivity and worker safety. Around North America, some are finding success by integrating commercially available hydrogen fuelcell systems into their lift truck fleets. For operations with large fleets of electric lift

A fuelcell assembly in which fuelcells adapted to internally reform fuel and fuel reformers for reforming fuel are arranged in a fuelcell stack. The fuel inlet ports of the fuelcells and the fuel inlet ports and reformed fuel outlet ports of the fuel reformers are arranged on one face of the fuelcell stack. A manifold sealing encloses this face of the stack and a reformer fuel delivery system is arranged entirely within the region between the manifold and the one face of the stack. The fuel reformer has a foil wrapping and a cover member forming with the foil wrapping an enclosed structure.

A novel electrochemical cell which may be a solid oxide fuelcell (SOFC) is disclosed where the cathodes (144, 140) may be exposed to the air and open to the ambient atmosphere without further housing. Current collector (145) extends through a first cathode on one side of a unit and over the unit through the cathode on the other side of the unit and is in electrical contact via lead (146) with housing unit (122 and 124). Electrical insulator (170) prevents electrical contact between two units. Fuel inlet manifold (134) allows fuel to communicate with internal space (138) between the anodes (154 and 156). Electrically insulating members (164 and 166) prevent the current collector from being in electrical contact with the anode.

A high temperature solid electrolyte fuelcell generator comprising a housing means defining a plurality of chambers including a generator chamber and a combustion products chamber, a porous barrier separating the generator and combustion product chambers, a plurality of elongated annular fuelcells each having a closed end and an open end with the open ends disposed within the combustion product chamber, the cells extending from the open end through the porous barrier and into the generator chamber, a conduit for each cell, each conduit extending into a portion of each cell disposed within the generator chamber, each conduit having means for discharging a first gaseous reactant within each fuelcell, exhaust means for exhausting the combustion product chamber, manifolding means for supplying the first gaseous reactant to the conduits with the manifolding means disposed within the combustion product chamber between the porous barrier and the exhaust means and the manifolding means further comprising support and bypass means for providing support of the manifolding means within the housing while allowing combustion products from the first and a second gaseous reactant to flow past the manifolding means to the exhaust means, and means for flowing the second gaseous reactant into the generator chamber.

A method for activating a membrane electrode assembly for a direct methanol fuelcell is disclosed. The method comprises operating the fuelcell with humidified hydrogen as the fuel followed by running the fuelcell with methanol as the fuel.

A passive direct organic fuelcell includes an organic fuel solution and is operative to produce at least 15 mW/cm.sup.2 when operating at room temperature. In additional aspects of the invention, fuelcells can include a gas remover configured to promote circulation of an organic fuel solution when gas passes through the solution, a modified carbon cloth, one or more sealants, and a replaceable fuel cartridge.

Presentation about Air Liquide's biogas technologies and integration with fuelcells. Presented by Charlie Anderson, Air Liquide, at the NREL/DOE Biogas and FuelCells Workshop held June 11-13, 2012, in Golden, Colorado.

The FuelCell Technical Team promotes the development of a fuelcell power system for an automotive powertrain that meets the U.S. DRIVE Partnership (United States Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability) goals.

A polymer electrolyte membrane fuelcell assembly has an anode side and a cathode side separated by the membrane and generating electrical current by electrochemical reactions between a fuel gas and an oxidant. The anode side comprises a hydrophobic gas diffusion backing contacting one side of the membrane and having hydrophilic areas therein for providing liquid water directly to the one side of the membrane through the hydrophilic areas of the gas diffusion backing. In a preferred embodiment, the hydrophilic areas of the gas diffusion backing are formed by sewing a hydrophilic thread through the backing. Liquid water is distributed over the gas diffusion backing in distribution channels that are separate from the fuel distribution channels.

A fuelcell sub-assembly comprising a plurality of fuelcells, a first section of a cooling means disposed at an end of the assembly and means for connecting the fuelcells and first section together to form a unitary structure.

This report describes the status of fuelcells for Congressional committees. It focuses on the technical and economic barriers to the use of fuelcells in transportation, portable power, stationary, and distributed power generation applications, and describes the need for public-private cooperative programs to demonstrate the use of fuelcells in commercial-scale applications by 2012. (Department of Energy, February 2003).

Progress continues in fuelcell technology since the previous edition of the FuelCell Handbook was published in November 1998. Uppermost, polymer electrolyte fuelcells, molten carbonate fuelcells, and solid oxide fuelcells have been demonstrated at commercial size in power plants. The previously demonstrated phosphoric acid fuelcells have entered the marketplace with more than 220 power plants delivered. Highlighting this commercial entry, the phosphoric acid power plant fleet has demonstrated 95+% availability and several units have passed 40,000 hours of operation. One unit has operated over 49,000 hours. Early expectations of very low emissions and relatively high efficiencies have been met in power plants with each type of fuelcell. Fuel flexibility has been demonstrated using natural gas, propane, landfill gas, anaerobic digester gas, military logistic fuels, and coal gas, greatly expanding market opportunities. Transportation markets worldwide have shown remarkable interest in fuelcells; nearly every major vehicle manufacturer in the U.S., Europe, and the Far East is supporting development. This Handbook provides a foundation in fuelcells for persons wanting a better understanding of the technology, its benefits, and the systems issues that influence its application. Trends in technology are discussed, including next-generation concepts that promise ultrahigh efficiency and low cost, while providing exceptionally clean power plant systems. Section 1 summarizes fuelcell progress since the last edition and includes existing power plant nameplate data. Section 2 addresses the thermodynamics of fuelcells to provide an understanding of fuelcell operation at two levels (basic and advanced). Sections 3 through 8 describe the six major fuelcell types and their performance based on cell operating conditions. Alkaline and intermediate solid state fuelcells were added to this edition of the Handbook. New information indicates that manufacturers have stayed

The CO concentration in the H.sub.2 feed stream to a PEM fuelcell stack is monitored by measuring current and/or voltage behavior patterns from a PEM-probe communicating with the reformate feed stream. Pattern recognition software may be used to compare the current and voltage patterns from the PEM-probe to current and voltage telltale outputs determined from a reference cell similar to the PEM-probe and operated under controlled conditions over a wide range of CO concentrations in the H.sub.2 fuel stream. A CO sensor includes the PEM-probe, an electrical discharge circuit for discharging the PEM-probe to monitor the CO concentration, and an electrical purging circuit to intermittently raise the anode potential of the PEM-probe's anode to at least about 0.8 V (RHE) to electrochemically oxidize any CO adsorbed on the probe's anode catalyst.

An oxygen electrode for a fuelcell utilizing an acid electrolyte has a substrate of an alkali metal tungsten bronze of the formula: A/sub x/WO/sub 3/ where A is an alkali metal and x is at least 0.2, which is covered with a thin layer of platinum tungsten bronze of the formula: Pt/sub y/WO/sub 3/ where y is at least 0.8.

An oxygen electrode for a fuelcell utilizing an acid electrolyte has a substrate of an alkali metal tungsten bronze of the formula: A.sub.x WO.sub.3 where A is an alkali metal and x is at least 0.2, which is covered with a thin layer of platinum tungsten bronze of the formula: Pt.sub.y WO.sub.3 where y is at least 0.8.

A carbonate fuelcell matrix comprising support particles and crack attenuator particles which are made platelet in shape to increase the resistance of the matrix to through cracking. Also disclosed is a matrix having porous crack attenuator particles and a matrix whose crack attenuator particles have a thermal coefficient of expansion which is significantly different from that of the support particles, and a method of making platelet-shaped crack attenuator particles.

A carbonate fuelcell matrix is described comprising support particles and crack attenuator particles which are made platelet in shape to increase the resistance of the matrix to through cracking. Also disclosed is a matrix having porous crack attenuator particles and a matrix whose crack attenuator particles have a thermal coefficient of expansion which is significantly different from that of the support particles, and a method of making platelet-shaped crack attenuator particles. 8 figs.

A fuelcell has a current collector plate (22) located between an electrode (20) and a separate plate (25). The collector plate has a plurality of arches (26, 28) deformed from a single flat plate in a checkerboard pattern. The arches are of sufficient height (30) to provide sufficient reactant flow area. Each arch is formed with sufficient stiffness to accept compressive load and sufficient resiliently to distribute the load and maintain electrical contact.

A fuelcell for a fuelcell generator including a housing including a gas flow path for receiving a fuel from a fuel source and directing the fuel across the fuelcell. The fuelcell includes an elongate member including opposing first and second ends and defining an interior cathode portion and an exterior anode portion. The interior cathode portion includes an electrode in contact with an oxidant flow path. The exterior anode portion includes an electrode in contact with the fuel in the gas flow path. The anode portion includes a catalyst material for effecting fuel reformation along the fuelcell between the opposing ends. A fuel reformation control layer is applied over the catalyst material for reducing a rate of fuel reformation on the fuelcell. The control layer effects a variable reformation rate along the length of the fuelcell.

An ambient pressure fuelcell system is provided with a fuelcell stack formed from a plurality of fuelcells having membrane/electrode assemblies (MEAs) that are hydrated with liquid water and bipolar plates with anode and cathode sides for distributing hydrogen fuel gas and water to a first side of each one of the MEAs and air with reactant oxygen gas to a second side of each one of the MEAs. A pump supplies liquid water to the fuelcells. A recirculating system may be used to return unused hydrogen fuel gas to the stack. A near-ambient pressure blower blows air through the fuelcell stack in excess of reaction stoichiometric amounts to react with the hydrogen fuel gas.

The present invention includes a fuelcell system having an interconnect that reduces or eliminates diffusion (leakage) of fuel and oxidant by providing an increased densification, by forming the interconnect as a ceramic/metal composite.

Evaluations FuelCell Electric Vehicle Evaluations NREL's technology validation team analyzes hydrogen fuelcell electric vehicles (FCEVs) operating in a real-world setting to identify the current status of the technology, compare it to Department of Energy (DOE) performance and durability targets, and evaluate progress between multiple generations of technology, some of which will include commercial FCEVs for the first time. Current fuelcell electric vehicle evaluations build on the

A molten alkali metal carbonates fuelcell porous anode of lithium ferrite and a metal or metal alloy of nickel, cobalt, nickel/iron, cobalt/iron, nickel/iron/aluminum, cobalt/iron/aluminum and mixtures thereof wherein the total iron content including ferrite and iron of the composite is about 25 to about 80 percent, based upon the total anode, provided aluminum when present is less than about 5 weight percent of the anode. A process for production of the lithium ferrite containing anode by slipcasting.

A fuelcell having an electrolyte control volume includes a pair of porous opposed electrodes. A maxtrix is positioned between the pair of electrodes for containing an electrolyte. A first layer of backing paper is positioned adjacent to one of the electrodes. A portion of the paper is substantially previous to the acceptance of the electrolyte so as to absorb electrolyte when there is an excess in the matrix and to desorb electrolyte when there is a shortage in the matrix. A second layer of backing paper is positioned adjacent to the first layer of paper and is substantially impervious to the acceptance of electrolyte.

A molten alkali metal carbonates fuelcell porous anode of lithium ferrite and a metal or metal alloy of nickel, cobalt, nickel/iron, cobalt/iron, nickel/iron/aluminum, cobalt/iron/aluminum and mixtures thereof wherein the total iron content including ferrite and iron of the composite is about 25 to about 80 percent, based upon the total anode, provided aluminum when present is less than about 5 weight percent of the anode. A process is described for production of the lithium ferrite containing anode by slipcasting.

For the purpose of this STI product and unless otherwise stated, hybrid fuelcell systems are power generation systems in which a high temperature fuelcell is combined with another power generating technology. The resulting system exhibits a synergism in which the combination performs with an efficiency far greater than can be provided by either system alone. Hybrid fuelcell designs under development include fuelcell with gas turbine, fuelcell with reciprocating (piston) engine, and designs that combine different fuelcell technologies. Hybrid systems have been extensively analyzed and studied over the past five years by the Department of Energy (DOE), industry, and others. These efforts have revealed that this combination is capable of providing remarkably high efficiencies. This attribute, combined with an inherent low level of pollutant emission, suggests that hybrid systems are likely to serve as the next generation of advanced power generation systems.

The present invention is directed to a novel bipolar cooling plate, fuelcell design and method of assembly of fuelcells. The bipolar cooling plate used in the fuelcell design and method of assembly has discrete opposite edge and means carried by the plate defining a plurality of channels extending along the surface of the plate toward the opposite edges. At least one edge of the channels terminates short of the edge of the plate defining a recess for receiving a fastener.

A fuelcell gas management system including a cathode humidification system for transferring latent and sensible heat from an exhaust stream to the cathode inlet stream of the fuelcell; an anode humidity retention system for maintaining the total enthalpy of the anode stream exiting the fuelcell equal to the total enthalpy of the anode inlet stream; and a cooling water management system having segregated deionized water and cooling water loops interconnected by means of a brazed plate heat exchanger.

FuelCells » FuelCells Related Links FuelCells Related Links The following resources provide details about U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-funded fuelcell activities, research plans and roadmaps, partnerships, and additional related links. DOE-Funded FuelCell Activities Each year, hydrogen and fuelcell projects funded by DOE's Hydrogen and FuelCells Program are reviewed for their merit during an Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting. View posters and presentations from the

In a stacked array of molten carbonate fuelcells, a fuelcell separator is positioned between adjacent fuelcells to provide isolation as well as a conductive path therebetween. The center portion of the fuelcell separator includes a generally rectangular, flat, electrical conductor. Around the periphery of the flat portion of the separator are positioned a plurality of elongated resilient flanges which form a gas-tight seal around the edges of the fuelcell. With one elongated flange resiliently engaging a respective edge of the center portion of the separator, the sealing flanges, which are preferably comprised of a noncorrosive material such as an alloy of yttrium, iron, aluminum or chromium, form a tight-fitting wet seal for confining the corrosive elements of the fuelcell therein. This arrangement permits a good conductive material which may be highly subject to corrosion and dissolution to be used in combination with a corrosion-resistant material in the fuelcell separator of a molten carbonate fuelcell for improved fuelcell conductivity and a gas-tight wet seal.

In a stacked array of molten carbonate fuelcells, a fuelcell separator is positioned between adjacent fuelcells to provide isolation as well as a conductive path therebetween. The center portion of the fuelcell separator includes a generally rectangular, flat, electrical conductor. Around the periphery of the flat portion of the separator are positioned a plurality of elongated resilient flanges which form a gas-tight seal around the edges of the fuelcell. With one elongated flange resiliently engaging a respective edge of the center portion of the separator, the sealing flanges, which are preferably comprised of a noncorrosive material such as an alloy of yttrium, iron, aluminum or chromium, form a tight-fitting wet seal for confining the corrosive elements of the fuelcell therein. This arrangement permits a good conductive material which may be highly subject to corrosion and dissolution to be used in combination with a corrosion-resistant material in the fuelcell separator of a molten carbonate fuelcell for improved fuelcell conductivity and a gas-tight wet seal.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is currently one of the most active power utility companies in researching fuelcell technology. Fuelcells offer many benefits and are now used as an alternative to traditional internal combustion engines in power generation. In continuing it's role as the leader in fuelcell research, LADWP has installed a pre-commercial molten carbonate fuelcell on August 2001 at its headquarter, the John Ferraro Building (JFB). The goal of this project is to learn more about the actual behavior of the fuelcell running under real world conditions. The fuelcell ran smoothly through the first year of operation with very high efficiency, but with some minor setbacks. The JFB fuelcell project is funded by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power with partial grant funding from the Department of Defense's Climate Change FuelCell Buydown Program. The technical evaluation and the benefit-cost evaluation of the JFB fuelcell are both examined in this report.

This report discusses the first year of operation of a fuelcell power plant located at the Sheraton Edison Hotel, Edison, New Jersey. PPL EnergyPlus, LLC installed the plant under a contract with the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. A DFC{reg_sign}300 fuelcell, manufactured by FuelCell Energy, Inc. of Danbury, CT was selected for the project. The fuelcell successfully operated from June 2003 to May 2004. This report discusses the performance of the plant during this period.

This project, entitled “Recovery Act: FuelCell-Powered Lift Truck Sysco (Houston) Fleet Deployment”, was in response to DOE funding opportunity announcement DE-PS36-08GO98009, Topic 7B, which promotes the deployment of fuelcell powered material handling equipment in large, multi-shift distribution centers. This project promoted large-volume commercialdeployments and helped to create a market pull for material handling equipment (MHE) powered fuelcell systems. Specific outcomes and benefits involved the proliferation of fuelcell systems in 5-to 20-kW lift trucks at a high-profile, real-world site that demonstrated the benefits of fuelcell technology and served as a focal point for other nascent customers. The project allowed for the creation of expertise in providing service and support for MHE fuelcell powered systems, growth of existing product manufacturing expertise, and promoted existing fuelcell system and component companies. The project also stimulated other MHE fleet conversions helping to speed the adoption of fuelcell systems and hydrogen fueling technology. This document also contains the lessons learned during the project in order to communicate the successes and difficulties experienced, which could potentially assist others planning similar projects.

FuelCells » Types of FuelCells Types of FuelCellsFuelcells are classified primarily by the kind of electrolyte they employ. This classification determines the kind of electro-chemical reactions that take place in the cell, the kind of catalysts required, the temperature range in which the cell operates, the fuel required, and other factors. These characteristics, in turn, affect the applications for which these cells are most suitable. There are several types of fuelcells currently under

The DOE is studying availability, economics, and uses of geothermal energy. These studies are being conducted to assure maximum cost-effective use of geothermal resources. The DOE is also aiding development of a viable ethanol fuel industry. One important point of the ethanol program is to encourage use of non-fossil fuels, such as geothermal energy, as process heat to manufacture ethanol. Geothermal waters available in the eastern US tend to be lower in temperature (180 F or less) than those available in the western states (above 250 F). Technically feasible use of eastern geothermal energy for ethanol process heat requires use of technology that lowers ethanol process temperature requirements. Vacuum (subatmospheric) distillation is one such technology. This study, then, addresses technical feasibility of use of geothermal energy to provide process heat to ethanol distillation units operated at vacuum pressures. They conducted this study by performing energy balances on conventional and vacuum ethanol processes of ten million gallons per year size. Energy and temperature requirements for these processes were obtained from the literature or were estimated (for process units or technologies not covered in available literature). Data on available temperature and energy of eastern geothermal resources was obtained from the literature. These data were compared to ethanol process requirements, assuming a 150 F geothermal resource temperature. Conventional ethanol processes require temperatures of 221 F for mash cooking to 240 F for stripping. Fermentation, conducted at 90 F, is exothermic and requires no process heat. All temperature requirements except those for fermentation exceed assumed geothermal temperatures of 150 F. They assumed a 130 millimeter distillation pressure for the vacuum process. It requires temperatures of 221 F for mash cooking and 140 F for distillation. Data indicate lower energy requirements for the vacuum ethanol process (30 million BTUs per

A process for generating electricity from a fuelcell includes generating a hydrogen-rich gas as the fuel for the fuelcell by treating a hydrocarbon feed, which may be a normally liquid feed, in an autothermal reformer utilizing a first monolithic catalyst zone having palladium and platinum catalytic components therein and a second, platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst. Air is used as the oxidant in the hydrocarbon reforming zone and a low oxygen to carbon ratio is maintained to control the amount of dilution of the hydrogen-rich gas with nitrogen of the air without sustaining an insupportable amount of carbon deposition on the catalyst. Anode vent gas may be utilized as the fuel to preheat the inlet stream to the reformer. The fuelcell and the reformer are preferably operated at elevated pressures, up to about a pressure of 150 psia for the fuelcell.

A solid oxide fuelcell generator has a pair of spaced apart tubesheets in a housing. At least two intermediate barrier walls are between the tubesheets and define a generator chamber between two intermediate buffer chambers. An array of fuelcells have tubes with open ends engaging the tubesheets. Tubular, axially elongated electrochemical cells are supported on the tubes in the generator chamber. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are preheated in the intermediate chambers by the gases flowing on the other side of the tubes. Gas leakage around the tubes through the tubesheets is permitted. The buffer chambers reentrain the leaked fuel gas for reintroduction to the generator chamber.

A solid oxide fuelcell generator has a pair of spaced apart tubesheets in a housing. At least two intermediate barrier walls are between the tubesheets and define a generator chamber between two intermediate buffer chambers. An array of fuelcells have tubes with open ends engaging the tubesheets. Tubular, axially elongated electrochemical cells are supported on the tubes in the generator chamber. Fuel gas and oxidant gas are preheated in the intermediate chambers by the gases flowing on the other side of the tubes. Gas leakage around the tubes through the tubesheets is permitted. The buffer chambers reentrain the leaked fuel gas for reintroduction to the generator chamber.

Animation FuelCell Animation This fuelcell animation demonstrates how a fuelcell uses hydrogen to produce electricity, with only water and heat as byproducts. Hydrogen fuelcell vehicles emit approximately the same amount of water per mile as conventional vehicles powered by internal combustion engines. Learn more about water emissions from fuelcell vehicles. View text version of animation.

A microbial fuelcell includes an anode compartment with an anode and an anode biocatalyst and a cathode compartment with a cathode and a cathode biocatalyst, with a membrane positioned between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment, and an electrical pathway between the anode and the cathode. The anode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing oxidation of an organic substance, and the cathode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing reduction of an inorganic substance. The reduced organic substance can form a precipitate, thereby removing the inorganic substance from solution. In some cases, the anode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing oxidation of an inorganic substance, and the cathode biocatalyst is capable of catalyzing reduction of an organic or inorganic substance.

Learn how fuelcell technology generates clean electricity from hydrogen to power our buildings and transportation-while emitting nothing but water. This video illustrates the fundamentals of fuelcell technology and its potential to supply our homes, offices, industries, and vehicles with sustainable, reliable energy.

A fuelcell stack protective system is made where a plurality of fuelcells, each containing liquid electrolyte subject to crystallization, is enclosed by a containing vessel, and where at least one electric heater is placed in the containing vessel and is capable of preventing electrolyte crystallization.

Described herein are processes for fabricating microfluidic fuelcell systems with embedded components in which micron-scale features are formed by bonding layers of DuPont Kapton.TM. polyimide laminate. A microfluidic fuelcell system fabricated using this process is also described.

Learn how fuelcell technology generates clean electricity from hydrogen to power our buildings and transportation-while emitting nothing but water. This video illustrates the fundamentals of fuelcell technology and its potential to supply our homes, offices, industries, and vehicles with sustainable, reliable energy.

A 200 kW FuelCell has been installed in the Lion House, Bronx Zoo, NY. The FuelCell is a 200 kW phosphoric acid type manufactured by United Technologies Corporation (UTC) and will provide thermal energy at 725,000 Btu/hr.

The present invention includes a fuelcell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuelcell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

The present invention includes a fuelcell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuelcell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

The present invention includes a fuelcell system having a plurality of adjacent electrochemical cells formed of an anode layer, a cathode layer spaced apart from the anode layer, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The fuelcell system also includes at least one interconnect, the interconnect being structured to conduct free electrons between adjacent electrochemical cells. Each interconnect includes a primary conductor embedded within the electrolyte layer and structured to conduct the free electrons.

Renewable Energy » Hydrogen & FuelCells » FuelCell Basics FuelCell Basics August 14, 2013 - 2:09pm Addthis Text Version Photo of two hydrogen fuelcells. Fuelcells can provide heat and electricity for buildings and electrical power for vehicles and electronic devices. HOW FUELCELLS WORK Fuelcells work like batteries, but they do not run down or need recharging. They produce electricity and heat as long as fuel is supplied. A fuelcell consists of two electrodes-a negative electrode

Energy FuelCell Council: The Voice of the FuelCell Industry U.S. FuelCell Council: The Voice of the FuelCell Industry Presentation to the Fall 2009 High Temperature Membrane Working Group about_usfcc.pdf (152.13 KB) More Documents & Publications FuelCell Council Working Group on Aircraft and Aircraft Ground Support FuelCell Applications Legislative Update: State and Regional Hydrogen and FuelCell Initiatives Conference Call Micro and Man-Portable FuelCells

Vehicles (FCEVs) | Department of Energy Fueling for Current and Anticipated FuelCell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) Webinar: Hydrogen Fueling for Current and Anticipated FuelCell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) Below is the text version of the webinar titled "Hydrogen Fueling for Current and Anticipated FuelCell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)," originally presented on June 24, 2014. In addition to this text version of the audio, you can access the presentation slides. Alli Aman: [Audio starts

This is the final report on a field evaluation by the Department of the Navy of twenty 5-kW PEM fuelcells carried out during 2004 and 2005 at five Navy sites located in New York, California, and Hawaii. The key objective of the effort was to obtain an engineering assessment of their military applications. Particular issues of interest were fuelcell cost, performance, reliability, and the readiness of commercial fuelcells for use as a standalone (grid-independent) power option. Two corollary objectives of the demonstration were to promote technological advances and to improve fuel performance and reliability. From a cost perspective, the capital cost of PEM fuelcells at this stage of their development is high compared to other power generation technologies. Sandia National Laboratories technical recommendation to the Navy is to remain involved in evaluating successive generations of this technology, particularly in locations with greater environmental extremes, and it encourages their increased use by the Navy.

A fuelcell stack is provided with a plurality of fuelcell cassettes where each fuelcell cassette has a fuelcell with an anode and cathode. The fuelcell stack includes an anode supply chimney for supplying fuel to the anode of each fuelcell cassette, an anode return chimney for removing anode exhaust from the anode of each fuelcell cassette, a cathode supply chimney for supplying oxidant to the cathode of each fuelcell cassette, and a cathode return chimney for removing cathode exhaust from the cathode of each fuelcell cassette. A first fuelcell cassette includes a flow control member disposed between the anode supply chimney and the anode return chimney or between the cathode supply chimney and the cathode return chimney such that the flow control member provides a flow restriction different from at least one other fuelcell cassettes.

Executive Summary In conjunction with the Brown Energy Initiative, research Projects selected for the fuelcell research grant were selected on the following criteria: They should be fundamental research that has the potential to significantly impact the nation’s energy infrastructure. They should be scientifically exciting and sound. They should synthesize new materials, lead to greater insights, explore new phenomena, or design new devices or processes that are of relevance to solving the energy problems. They involve top-caliper senior scientists with a record of accomplishment, or junior faculty with outstanding promise of achievement. They should promise to yield at least preliminary results within the given funding period, which would warrant further research development. They should fit into the overall mission of the Brown Energy Initiative, and the investigators should contribute as partners to an intellectually stimulating environment focused on energy science. Based on these criteria, fourteen faculty across three disciplines (Chemistry, Physics and Engineering) and the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory were selected to participate in this effort.1 In total, there were 30 people supported, at some level, on these projects. This report highlights the findings and research outcomes of the participating researchers.

A water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes devices and methods to combine reactant fuel materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. The generated hydrogen is converted in a fuelcell to provide electricity. The water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes a fuelcell, a water feed tray, and a fuel cartridge to generate power for portable power electronics. The removable fuel cartridge is encompassed by the water feed tray and fuelcell. The water feed tray is refillable with water by a user. The water is then transferred from the water feed tray into a fuel cartridge to generate hydrogen for the fuelcell which then produces power for the user.

A water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes devices and methods to combine reactant fuel materials and aqueous solutions to generate hydrogen. The generated hydrogen is converted in a fuelcell to provide electricity. The water reactive hydrogen fueled power system includes a fuelcell, a water feed tray, and a fuel cartridge to generate power for portable power electronics. The removable fuel cartridge is encompassed by the water feed tray and fuelcell. The water feed tray is refillable with water by a user. The water is then transferred from the water feed tray into the fuel cartridge to generate hydrogen for the fuelcell which then produces power for the user.

A fuelcell array is made, containing number of tubular, elongated fuelcells which are placed next to each other in rows (A, B, C, D), where each cell contains inner electrodes and outer electrodes, with solid electrolyte between the electrodes, where the electrolyte and outer electrode are discontinuous, having two portions, and providing at least two opposed discontinuities which contain at least two oppositely opposed interconnections contacting the inner electrode, each cell having only three metallic felt electrical connectors which contact surrounding cells, where each row is electrically connected to the other. 5 figures.

A fuelcell array (10) is made, containing number of tubular, elongated fuelcells (12) which are placed next to each other in rows (A, B, C, D), where each cell contains inner electrodes (14) and outer electrodes (18 and 18'), with solid electrolyte (16 and 16') between the electrodes, where the electrolyte and outer electrode are discontinuous, having two portions, and providing at least two opposed discontinuities which contain at least two oppositely opposed interconnections (20 and 20') contacting the inner electrode (14), each cell (12) having only three metallic felt electrical connectors (22) which contact surrounding cells, where each row is electrically connected to the other.

Calling All FuelCells Calling All FuelCells December 7, 2012 - 4:31pm Addthis Altergy had more than 60 fuelcells in the immediate Hurricane Sandy disaster area that acted as backup power for cell phone towers. | Photo courtesy of Altergy. Altergy had more than 60 fuelcells in the immediate Hurricane Sandy disaster area that acted as backup power for cell phone towers. | Photo courtesy of Altergy. Sunita Satyapal Director, FuelCell Technologies Office What is a fuelcell? A fuelcell is a

A PEM/SPE fuelcell is described including a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) having a plurality of oriented filament embedded the face thereof for supporting the MEA and conducting current therefrom to contiguous electrode plates. 4 figs.

ChevronTexaco has successfully operated a 200 kW PC25C phosphoric acid fuelcell power plant at the corporate data center in San Ramon, California for the past two years and seven months following installation in December 2001. This site was chosen based on the ability to utilize the combined heat (hot water) and power generation capability of this modular fuelcell power plant in an office park setting . In addition, this project also represents one of the first commercial applications of a stationary fuelcell for a mission critical data center to assess power reliability benefits. This fuelcell power plant system has demonstrated outstanding reliability and performance relative to other comparably sized cogeneration systems.

The project was divided into three subprojects. The first subproject is FuelCell Manufacturing Variability and Its Impact on Performance. The objective was to determine if flow field channel dimensional variability has an impact on fuelcell performance. The second subproject is Non-contact Sensor Evaluation for Bipolar Plate Manufacturing Process Control and Smart Assembly of FuelCell Stacks. The objective was to enable cost reduction in the manufacture of fuelcell plates by providing a rapid non-contact measurement system for in-line process control. The third subproject is Optical Scatterfield Metrology for Online Catalyst Coating Inspection of PEM Soft Goods. The objective was to evaluate the suitability of Optical Scatterfield Microscopy as a viable measurement tool for in situ process control of catalyst coatings.

A PEM/SPE fuelcell including a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) having a plurality of oriented filament embedded the face thereof for supporting the MEA and conducting current therefrom to contiguous electrode plates.

A fuelcell arrangement having cooling fluid flow passages which vary in surface area from the inlet to the outlet of the passages. A smaller surface area is provided at the passage inlet, which increases toward the passage outlet, so as to provide more uniform cooling of the entire fuelcell. The cooling passages can also be spaced from one another in an uneven fashion.

This powerpoint presentation discusses its objectives: real world operation data from the field and state-of-the-art lab; collection; analysis for independent technology validation; collaboration with industry and end users operating stationary fuelcell systems and reporting on technology status, progress and technical challenges. The approach and accomplishments are: A quarterly data analysis and publication of first technical stationary fuelcell composite data products (data through June 2012).

for Critical Communications Backup Power Greg Moreland SENTECH, Inc. Supporting the U.S. Department of Energy August 6, 2008 APCO Annual Conference and Expo 2 2 Fuelcells use hydrogen to create electricity, with only water and heat as byproducts FuelCell Overview * An individual fuelcell produces about 1 volt * Hundreds of individual cells can comprise a fuelcell stack * Fuelcells can be used to power a variety of applications -Bibliographic Database * Laptop computers (50-100 W) *

Fuelcells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. Unlike batteries, fuelcells continuously generate electricity, as long as a source of fuel is supplied. Moreover, fuelcells do not burn fuel, making the process quiet, pollution-free and two to three times more efficient than combustion. Fuelcell systems can be a truly zero-emission source of electricity, if the hydrogen is produced from non-polluting sources. Global concerns about climate change, energy security, and air pollution are driving demand for fuelcell technology. More than 630 companies and laboratories in the United States are investing $1 billion a year in fuelcells or fuelcell component technologies. This report provides an overview of trends in the fuelcell industry and markets, including product shipments, market development, and corporate performance. It also provides snapshots of select fuelcell companies, including general.

A low contaminant formic acid fuel is especially suited toward use in a direct organic liquid fuelcell. A fuel of the invention provides high power output that is maintained for a substantial time and the fuel is substantially non-flammable. Specific contaminants and contaminant levels have been identified as being deleterious to the performance of a formic acid fuel in a fuelcell, and embodiments of the invention provide low contaminant fuels that have improved performance compared to known commercial bulk grade and commercial purified grade formic acid fuels. Preferred embodiment fuels (and fuelcells containing such fuels) including low levels of a combination of key contaminants, including acetic acid, methyl formate, and methanol.

Information Resources » FuelCell Technologies Multimedia FuelCell Technologies Multimedia View and download multimedia-including infographics, videos, and animations-related to hydrogen and fuelcell technologies, research, projects, and program activities. Infographics View the fuelcell electric vehicle infographic to learn about how fuelcell electric vehicles (FCEVs) work and some of the benefits of FCEVs, such as how they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, emit only water, and operate

Hydrogen and FuelCell Basics Photo of vehicle filling up at renewable hydrogen fueling station. NREL's hydrogen fueling station dispenses hydrogen produced via renewable electrolysis. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL NREL researchers are working to unlock the potential of hydrogen as a fuel and to advance fuelcell technologies for automobiles, equipment, and buildings. View the Hydrogen Program video on NREL's YouTube channel to learn more about the basics of NREL's hydrogen and fuelcell

The potential for fuelcell systems to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions over conventional power systems has generated significant interest in fuelcell technologies. While fuelcells are being investigated for use in many applications such as stationary power generation and small portable devices, transportation applications present some unique challenges for fuelcell technology. Due to their lower operating temperature and non-brittle materials, most transportation work is focusing on fuelcells using proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. Since PEM fuelcells are fueled by hydrogen, major obstacles to their widespread use are the lack of an available hydrogen fueling infrastructure and hydrogen's relatively low energy storage density, which leads to a much lower driving range than conventional vehicles. One potential solution to the hydrogen infrastructure and storage density issues is to convert a conventional fuel such as gasoline into hydrogen onboard the vehicle using a fuel processor. Figure 2 shows that gasoline stores roughly 7 times more energy per volume than pressurized hydrogen gas at 700 bar and 4 times more than liquid hydrogen. If integrated properly, the fuel processor/fuelcell system would also be more efficient than traditional engines and would give a fuel economy benefit while hydrogen storage and distribution issues are being investigated. Widespread implementation of fuel processor/fuelcell systems requires improvements in several aspects of the technology, including size, startup time, transient response time, and cost. In addition, the ability to operate on a number of hydrocarbon fuels that are available through the existing infrastructure is a key enabler for commercializing these systems. In this program, Nuvera FuelCells collaborated with the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop efficient, low-emission, multi-fuel processors for transportation applications. Nuvera's focus was on (1) developing fuel processor

This paper provides a review of the greenhouse gas emissions due to fossil fuel and geothermal electrical generation and to the emissions of their respective support activities. These support activities consist of, exploration, development, and transportation aspects of the fuel source, including waste management. These support activities could amount to an additional 6% for coal, 22% for oil, 13% for natural gas and 1% for geothermal. The presented methodologies and underlying principles can be used to better define the resultant emissions, rankings and global impacts of these electrical generating industries.

This project focuses on the development and demonstration of anion exchange membrane (AEM) fuelcells for portable power applications. Novel polymeric anion exchange membranes and ionomers with high chemical stabilities were prepared characterized by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories. Durable, non-precious metal catalysts were prepared by Dr. Plamen Atanassov's research group at the University of New Mexico by utilizing an aerosol-based process to prepare templated nano-structures. Dr. Andy Herring's group at the Colorado School of Mines combined all of these materials to fabricate and test membrane electrode assemblies for single cell testing in a methanol-fueled alkaline system. The highest power density achieved in this study was 54 mW/cm2 which was 90% of the project target and the highest reported power density for a direct methanol alkaline fuelcell.

FuelCells News FuelCells News July 28, 2016 DOE Issues Request for Information on Hydrogen Infrastructure RD&D The U.S. Department of Energy's FuelCell Technologies Office has issued a request for information to obtain feedback from stakeholders regarding deployment of hydrogen fueling stations, delivery infrastructure, and barriers and activities to pursue in both the near and longer term. July 21, 2016 FY17 SBIR Phase I Release 1 Topics Announced: Includes FuelCell Catalysts and

The durability of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuelcells is a major barrier to the commercialization for stationary and transportation power applications. For transportation applications, the durability target for fuelcell power systems is a 5,000 hour lifespan and able to function over a range of vehicle operating conditions (-40{sup o} to +40{sup o}C). However, durability is difficult to quantify and improve because of the quantity and duration of testing required, and also because the fuelcell stack contains many components, for which the degradation mechanisms, component interactions and effects of operating conditions are not fully understood. These requirements have led to the development of accelerated testing protocols for PEM fuelcells. The need for accelerated testing methodology is exemplified by the times required for standard testing to reach their required targets: automotive 5,000 hrs = {approx} 7 months; stationary systems 40,000 hrs = {approx} 4.6 years. As new materials continue to be developed, the need for relevant accelerated testing increases. In this investigation, we examine the durability of various cell components, examine the effect of transportation operating conditions (potential cycling, variable RH, shut-down/start-up, freeze/thaw) and evaluate durability by accelerated durability protocols. PEM fuelcell durability testing is performed on single cells, with tests being conducted with steady-state conditions and with dynamic conditions using power cycling to simulate a vehicle drive cycle. Component and single-cell characterization during and after testing was conducted to identify changes in material properties and related failure mechanisms. Accelerated-testing experiments were applied to further examine material degradation.

GEW has been operating the first fuelcell in Europe producing heat and electricity from digester gas in an environmentally friendly way. The first 9,000 hours in operation were successfully concluded in August 2001. The fuelcell powered by digester gas was one of the 25 registered ''Worldwide projects'' which NRW presented at the EXPO 2000. In addition to this, it is a key project of the NRW State Initiative on Future Energies. All of the activities planned for the first year of operation were successfully completed: installing and putting the plant into operation, the transition to permanent operation as well as extended monitoring till May 2001.

One of the most challenging aspects of traditional PEM fuelcell stacks is the difficulty achieving the platinum catalyst utilization target of 0.2 gPt/kWe set forth by the DOE. Good catalyst utilization can be achieved with state-of-the-art catalyst coated membranes (CCM) when low catalyst loadings (<0.3 mg/cm2) are used at a low current. However, when low platinum loadings are used, the peak power density is lower than conventional loadings, requiring a larger total active area and a larger bipolar plate. This results in a lower overall stack power density not meeting the DOE target. By corrugating the fuelcell membrane electrode structure, Ion Power?s goal is to realize both the Pt utilization targets as well as the power density targets of the DOE. This will be achieved by demonstrating a fuelcell single cell (50 cm2) with a twofold increase in the membrane active area over the geometric area of the cell by corrugating the MEA structure. The corrugating structure must be able to demonstrate the target properties of < 10 mOhm-cm2 electrical resistance at > 20 psi compressive strength over the active area, in combination with offering at least 80% of power density that can be achieved by using the same MEA in a flat plate structure. Corrugated membrane fuelcell structures also have the potential to meet DOE power density targets by essentially packaging more membrane area into the same fuelcell volume as compared to conventional stack constructions.

A control method for monitoring a fuelcell stack in a fuelcell system in which the actual voltage and actual current from the fuelcell stack are monitored. A preestablished relationship between voltage and current over the operating range of the fuelcell is established. A variance value between the actual measured voltage and the expected voltage magnitude for a given actual measured current is calculated and compared with a predetermined allowable variance. An output is generated if the calculated variance value exceeds the predetermined variance. The predetermined voltage-current for the fuelcell is symbolized as a polarization curve at given operating conditions of the fuelcell.

This year`s theme, ``FuelCells: Realizing the Potential,`` focuses on progress being made toward commercial manufacture and use of fuelcell products. Fuelcell power plants are competing for market share in some applications and demonstrations of market entry power plants are proceeding for additional applications. Development activity on fuelcells for transportation is also increasing; fuelcell products have potential in energy and transportation industries, with very favorable environmental impacts. This Seminar has the purpose of fostering communication by providing a forum for the international community interested in development, application, and business opportunities related fuelcells. Over 190 technical papers are included, the majority being processed for the data base.

Analysis Fueling Infrastructure Analysis As the market grows for hydrogen fuelcell electric vehicles, so does the need for a comprehensive hydrogen fueling infrastructure. NREL's technology validation team is analyzing the availability and performance of existing hydrogen fueling stations, benchmarking the current status, and providing feedback related to capacity, utilization, station build time, maintenance, fueling, and geographic coverage. Overview Composite Data Products Publications

Vehicles & Fuels » Vehicles » FuelCell Vehicle Basics FuelCell Vehicle Basics August 20, 2013 - 9:11am Addthis Photo of a blue car with 'The Road to Hydrogen' written on it, filling up at a hydrogen fueling station. Fuelcell vehicles, powered by hydrogen, could greatly improve the sustainability of our transportation sector. Although electricity production may contribute to air pollution, they are more efficient than conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and produce no

A stack of polymer electrolyte fuelcells is formed from a plurality of unit cells where each unit cell includes fuelcell components defining a periphery and distributed along a common axis, where the fuelcell components include a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode and a cathode contacting opposite sides of the membrane, and fuel and oxygen flow fields contacting the anode and the cathode, respectively, wherein the components define an annular region therethrough along the axis. A fuel distribution manifold within the annular region is connected to deliver fuel to the fuel flow field in each of the unit cells. In a particular embodiment, a single bolt through the annular region clamps the unit cells together. In another embodiment, separator plates between individual unit cells have an extended radial dimension to function as cooling fins for maintaining the operating temperature of the fuelcell stack.

Method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of H.sub.2 --O.sub.2 PEM fuelcells. Outputs from a cell/stack voltage monitor and a cathode exhaust gas H.sub.2 sensor are corrected for stack operating conditions, and then compared to predetermined levels of acceptability. If certain unacceptable conditions coexist, an operator is alerted and/or corrective measures are automatically undertaken.

The present invention generally relates to the generation of electrical energy from a solid-state fuel. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a solid-oxide fuelcell for generating electrical energy from a carbon-based fuel, and to catalysts for use in a solid-oxide fuelcell.

The present invention generally relates to the generation of electrical energy from a solid-state fuel. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a solid-oxide fuelcell for generating electrical energy from a carbon-based fuel, and to catalysts for use in a solid-oxide fuelcell.

A system for preparing particulate carbon fuel and using the particulate carbon fuel in a fuelcell. Carbon particles are finely divided. The finely dividing carbon particles are introduced into the fuelcell. A gas containing oxygen is introduced into the fuelcell. The finely divided carbon particles are exposed to carbonate salts, or to molten NaOH or KOH or LiOH or mixtures of NaOH or KOH or LiOH, or to mixed hydroxides, or to alkali and alkaline earth nitrates.

A system for preparing particulate carbon fuel and using the particulate carbon fuel in a fuelcell. Carbon particles are finely divided. The finely dividing carbon particles are introduced into the fuelcell. A gas containing oxygen is introduced into the fuelcell. The finely divided carbon particles are exposed to carbonate salts, or to molten NaOH or KOH or LiOH or mixtures of NaOH or KOH or LiOH, or to mixed hydroxides, or to alkali and alkaline earth nitrates.

A system for preparing particulate carbon fuel and using the particulate carbon fuel in a fuelcell. Carbon particles are finely divided. The finely dividing carbon particles are introduced into the fuelcell. A gas containing oxygen is introduced into the fuelcell. The finely divided carbon particles are exposed to carbonate salts, or to molten NaOH or KOH or LiOH or mixtures of NaOH or KOH or LiOH, or to mixed hydroxides, or to alkali and alkaline earth nitrates.

A system for preparing particulate carbon fuel and using the particulate carbon fuel in a fuelcell. Carbon particles are finely divided. The finely dividing carbon particles are introduced into the fuelcell. A gas containing oxygen is introduced into the fuelcell. The finely divided carbon particles are exposed to carbonate salts, or to molten NaOH or KOH or LiOH or mixtures of NaOH or KOH or LiOH, or to mixed hydroxides, or to alkali and alkaline earth nitrates.

The fuelcell industry, which has experienced continued increases in sales, is an emerging clean energy industry with the potential for significant growth in the stationary, portable, and transportation sectors. Fuelcells produce electricity in a highly efficient electrochemical process from a variety of fuels with low to zero emissions. This report describes data compiled in 2008 on trends in the fuelcell industry for 2007 with some comparison to two previous years. The report begins with a discussion of worldwide trends in units shipped and financing for the fuelcell industry for 2007. It continues by focusing on the North American and U.S. markets. After providing this industry-wide overview, the report identifies trends for each of the major fuelcell applications -- stationary power, portable power, and transportation -- including data on the range of fuelcell technologies -- polymer electrolyte membrane fuelcell (PEMFC), solid oxide fuelcell (SOFC), alkaline fuelcell (AFC), molten carbonate fuelcell (MCFC), phosphoric acid fuelcell (PAFC), and direct-methanol fuelcell (DMFC) -- used for these applications.

Presentation about biogas technologies and integration with fuelcells. Presented by Shabbir Ahmed, Argonne National Laboratory, at the NREL/DOE Biogas and FuelCells Workshop held June 11-13, 2012, in Golden, Colorado.

A stream conditioning system for a fuelcell gas management system or fuelcell engine. The stream conditioning system manages species potential in at least one fuelcell reactant stream. A species transfer device is located in the path of at least one reactant stream of a fuelcell's inlet or outlet, which transfer device conditions that stream to improve the efficiency of the fuelcell. The species transfer device incorporates an exchange media and a sorbent. The fuelcell gas management system can include a cathode loop with the stream conditioning system transferring latent and sensible heat from an exhaust stream to the cathode inlet stream of the fuelcell; an anode humidity retention system for maintaining the total enthalpy of the anode stream exiting the fuelcell related to the total enthalpy of the anode inlet stream; and a cooling water management system having segregated deionized water and cooling water loops interconnected by means of a brazed plate heat exchanger.

A system and method for electrically interconnecting a plurality of fuelcells to provide dense packing of the fuelcells. Each one of the plurality of fuelcells has a plurality of discrete electrical connection points along an outer surface. Electrical connections are made directly between the discrete electrical connection points of adjacent fuelcells so that the fuelcells can be packed more densely. Fuelcells have at least one outer electrode and at least one discrete interconnection to an inner electrode, wherein the outer electrode is one of a cathode and and anode and wherein the inner electrode is the other of the cathode and the anode. In tubular solid oxide fuelcells the discrete electrical connection points are spaced along the length of the fuelcell.

This presentation, which focuses on polyelectrolyte materials for high temperature fuelcells, was given by John Kerr of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at a meeting on new fuelcell projects in February 2007.

Report and presentations from a workshop on alkaline membrane fuelcells (AMFCs) held May 8–9, 2011, before the 2011 Hydrogen and FuelCells Annual Merit Review, at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

A rapidly refuelable dual cell of an electrochemical type is described wherein a single anode cooperates with two cathodes and wherein the anode has a fixed position and the cathodes are urged toward opposite faces of the anodes at constant and uniform force. The associated cathodes are automatically retractable to permit the consumed anode remains to be removed from the housing and a new anode inserted between the two cathodes.

A rapidly refuelable dual cell of an electrochemical type wherein a single anode cooperates with two cathodes and wherein the anode has a fixed position and the cathodes are urged toward opposite faces of the anodes at constant and uniform force. The associated cathodes are automatically retractable to permit the consumed anode remains to be removed from the housing and a new anode inserted between the two cathodes.

Sanyo Electric has been concentrating on developing a marketable portable fuelcell using phosphoric acid fuelcells (PAFC). Due to the fact that this power source uses PAFC that operate at low temperature around 100{degrees} C, they are easier to handle compared to conventional fuelcells that operate at around 200{degrees} C , they can also be expected to provide extended reliable operation because corrosion of the electrode material and deterioration of the electrode catalyst are almost completely nonexistent. This power source is meant to be used independently and stored at room temperature. When it is started up, it generates electricity itself using its internal load to raise the temperature. As a result, the phosphoric acid (the electolyte) absorbs the reaction water when the temperature starts to be raised (around room temperature). At the same time the concentration and volume of the phosphoric acid changes, which may adversely affect the life time of the cell. We have studied means for starting, operating PAFC stack using methods that can simply evaluate changes in the concentration of the electrolyte in the stack with the aim of improving and extending cell life and report on them in this paper.

A fuelcell system comprising a fuelcell including first and second electrolyte-communicative passage means, a third electrolyte-isolated passage means in thermal communication with a heat generating surface of the cell, independent first, second and third input manifolds for the first, second and third passage means, the first input manifold being adapted to be connected to a first supply for a first process gas and one of the second and third input manifold means being adapted to be connected to a second supply for a second process gas, and means for conveying a portion of the gas passing out of the passage means fed by the one input manifold means to the other of the second and third input manifold means.

A manifold-to-stack seal and sealing method for fuelcell stacks. This seal system solves the problem of maintaining a low leak rate manifold seal as the fuelcell stack undergoes compressive creep. The seal system eliminates the problem of the manifold-to-stack seal sliding against the rough stack surface as the stack becomes shorter because of cell creep, which relative motion destroys the seal. The seal system described herein utilizes a polymer seal frame firmly clamped between the manifold and the stack such that the seal frame moves with the stack. Thus, as the stack creeps, the seal frame creeps with it, and there is no sliding at the rough, tough to seal, stack-to-seal frame interface. Here the sliding is on a smooth easy to seal location between the seal frame and the manifold.

The PEM fuelcell is promising as the power source for use in mobile and stationary applications primarily because of its high power density, all solid components, and simplicity of operation. For wide acceptability of this power source, its cost has to be competitive with the presently available energy sources. The fuelcell requires continuous humidification during operation as a power source. The humidification unit however, increases fuelcell volume, weight, and therefore decreases its overall power density. Great advantages in terms of further fuelcell simplification can be achieved if the humidification process can be eliminated or minimized. In addition, cost reductions are associated with the case of manufacturing and operation. At BCS Technology we have developed a technology of self-humidified operation of PEM fuelcells based on the mass balance of the reactants and products and the ability of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) to retain water necessary for humidification under the cell operating conditions. The reactants enter the fuelcell chambers without carrying any form of water, whether in liquid or vapor form. Basic principles of self-humidified operation of fuelcells as practiced by BCS Technology, Inc. have been presented previously in literature. Here, we report the operation of larger self-humidified single cells and fuelcell stacks. Fuelcells of areas Up to 100 cm{sup 2} have been operated. We also show the self-humidified operation of fuelcell stacks of 50 and 100 cm{sup 2} electrode areas.

This article very briefly describes a phosphoric-acid fuelcell (PAFC) power plant installed by the New York Power Authority at a wastewater treatment plant. The facility is the first in the world to use anaerobic digester gas (ADG), a natural byproduct of sewage treatment, as fuel. ADG is partially utilized and partially flared at the plant. The PAFC captures a portion of the otherwise flared ADG and uses it as fuel to produce approximately 200kW of electricity and heat for plant use. The U.S. Department of Energy, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Electric Power Research Institute are helping the power authority finance the project.

A fuelcell arrangement having a non-uniform distribution of fuel and oxidant flow paths, on opposite sides of an electrolyte matrix, sized and positioned to provide approximately uniform fuel and oxidant utilization rates, and cell conditions, across the entire cell.

A H.sub.2 -air fuelcell integrated with a steam reformer is disclosed wherein a superheated water/methanol mixture is fed to a catalytic reformer to provide a continuous supply of hydrogen to the fuelcell, the gases exhausted from the anode of the fuelcell providing the thermal energy, via combustion, for superheating the water/methanol mixture.

Technologies Program (FCTP) (Fact Sheet) | Department of Energy Takes a Starring Role in the BurbankBus Fleet, FuelCell Technologies Program (FCTP) (Fact Sheet) FuelCell Bus Takes a Starring Role in the BurbankBus Fleet, FuelCell Technologies Program (FCTP) (Fact Sheet) This fact sheet reports on the City of Burbank, California's fuelcell bus demonstration project and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) involvement. Included are specifications for the fuelcell bus and information

Transit Evaluation Team | Department of Energy Bus Coordination and Evaluation Plan California FuelCell Transit Evaluation Team FuelCell Transit Bus Coordination and Evaluation Plan California FuelCell Transit Evaluation Team The purpose of this document is to describe the coordination and evaluation of the demonstration of seven full-size (40-foot) fuelcell transit buses. The descriptions in this document include the partners, fuelcell bus demonstration sites, objectives...

Hydrogen Storage Technologies Roadmap FuelCell Technical Team Roadmap June 2013 This roadmap is a document of the U.S. DRIVE Partnership. U.S. DRIVE (Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle efficiency and Energy sustainability) is a voluntary, non-binding, and nonlegal partnership among the U.S. Department of Energy; USCAR, representing Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors; Tesla Motors; five energy companies - BP America, Chevron Corporation, Phillips 66 Company,

A molten carbonate fuelcell including a cathode electrode of electrically conducting or semiconducting lanthanum containing material and an electrolyte containing matrix of an electrically insulating lanthanum perovskite. In addition, in an embodiment where the cathode electrode is LaMnO.sub.3, the matrix may include LaAlO.sub.3 or a lithium containing material such as LiAlO.sub.2 or Li.sub.2 TiO.sub.3.

Fuelcell systems are being deployed in stationary applications for the generation of electricity, heat, and hydrogen. These systems use a variety of fuelcell types, ranging from the low temperature polymer electrolyte fuelcell (PEFC) to the high temperature solid oxide fuelcell (SOFC). Depending on the application and location, these systems are being designed to operate on reformate or syngas produced from various fuels that include natural gas, biogas, coal gas, etc. All of these fuels contain species that can potentially damage the fuelcell anode or other unit operations and processes that precede the fuelcell stack. These detrimental effects include loss in performance or durability, and attenuating these effects requires additional components to reduce the impurity concentrations to tolerable levels, if not eliminate the impurity entirely. These impurity management components increase the complexity of the fuelcell system, and they add to the system's capital and operating costs (such as regeneration, replacement and disposal of spent material and maintenance). This project reviewed the public domain information available on the impurities encountered in stationary fuelcell systems, and the effects of the impurities on the fuelcells. A database has been set up that classifies the impurities, especially in renewable fuels, such as landfill gas and anaerobic digester gas. It documents the known deleterious effects on fuelcells, and the maximum allowable concentrations of select impurities suggested by manufacturers and researchers. The literature review helped to identify the impurity removal strategies that are available, and their effectiveness, capacity, and cost. A generic model of a stationary fuel-cell based power plant operating on digester and landfill gas has been developed; it includes a gas processing unit, followed by a fuelcell system. The model includes the key impurity removal steps to enable predictions of impurity breakthrough

A pilot project now under development in Folsom, California, incorporates an anaerobic digestion/aerobic composting process that could eventually supply enough biogas to a fuelcell. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has two fuelcells in operation and is participating in the research project. Recently, the California Prison Industry Authority (PIA) began operating a processing facility at the Folsom prison, designed for 100 tons/day of mixed waste from the City of Folsom. The 35,000 square foot Correctional Resource Recovery Facility (CRRF) uses minimum security inmates from Folsom`s Return to Custody Facility to manually separate recyclables and compostable materials from the waste stream. The PIA will be using a new technology, high solids anaerobic digestion, to compost the organic fraction (representing approximately 60 to 70 percent of the waste stream). Construction began in June on a 40-foot wide by 120-foot long and 22-foot deep anaerobic digester. Once the vessel is operational in 1995, the composting process and the gradual breakdown of organic material will produce biogas, which SMUD hopes to use to power an adjacent two megawatt fuelcell. The electricity generated will serve SMUD customers, including the waste facility and nearby correctional institutions. 1 fig.

A propulsion system is described for a vehicle having pairs of front and rear wheels and a fuel tank. An electrically driven motor having an output shaft operatively connected to at least one of said pair of wheels is connected to a fuelcell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte for producing dc power to operate the motor. A partial oxidation reformer is connected both to the fuel tank and to the fuelcell and receives hydrogen-containing fuel from the fuel tank and uses water and air for partially oxidizing and reforming the fuel in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst and a reforming catalyst to produce a hydrogen-containing gas. The hydrogen-containing gas is sent from the partial oxidation reformer to the fuelcell negative electrode while air is transported to the fuelcell positive electrode to produce dc power for operating the electric motor. 3 figures.

A propulsion system for a vehicle having pairs of front and rear wheels and a fuel tank. An electrically driven motor having an output shaft operatively connected to at least one of said pair of wheels is connected to a fuelcell having a positive electrode and a negative electrode separated by an electrolyte for producing dc power to operate the motor. A partial oxidation reformer is connected both to the fuel tank and to the fuelcell receives hydrogen-containing fuel from the fuel tank and water and air and for partially oxidizing and reforming the fuel with water and air in the presence of an oxidizing catalyst and a reforming catalyst to produce a hydrogen-containing gas. The hydrogen-containing gas is sent from the partial oxidation reformer to the fuelcell negative electrode while air is transported to the fuelcell positive electrode to produce dc power for operating the electric motor.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuelcell performance with CO contamination of the H.sub.2 fuel stream is substantially improved by injecting O.sub.2 into the fuel stream ahead of the fuelcell. It is found that a surface reaction occurs even at PEM operating temperatures below about 100.degree. C. to oxidatively remove the CO and restore electrode surface area for the H.sub.2 reaction to generate current. Using an O.sub.2 injection, a suitable fuel stream for a PEM fuelcell can be formed from a methanol source using conventional reforming processes for producing H.sub.2.

This report assesses the applicability of fuelcells to a wide variety of transportation vehicles and compares them with competing propulsion systems. The assessments include economic evaluations (initial capital cost and levelized-life-cycle costs) and noneconomic evaluations (vehicle performance, power plant size, environmental effects, safety, convenience and reliability). The report also recommends research and development areas to support the development of fuelcell systems. The study indicates that fork-lift trucks are an excellent application for fuelcells. Fuelcell use in urban delivery vans and city buses is promising because it would reduce air pollution. Fuel-cell-powered automobiles, pickup trucks, and intercity buses only look promising over the long term. Based on economic criteria, the use of fuelcells for small marine craft does not appear feasible. Because of economic uncertainties, further study is needed to assess the application of fuelcell systems to freight locomotives and large marine craft.

A control method for monitoring a fuelcell stack in a fuelcell system in which the actual voltage and actual current from the fuelcell stack are monitored. A preestablished relationship between voltage and current over the operating range of the fuelcell is established. A variance value between the actual measured voltage and the expected voltage magnitude for a given actual measured current is calculated and compared with a predetermined allowable variance. An output is generated if the calculated variance value exceeds the predetermined variance. The predetermined voltage-current for the fuelcell is symbolized as a polarization curve at given operating conditions of the fuelcell. Other polarization curves may be generated and used for fuelcell stack monitoring based on different operating pressures, temperatures, hydrogen quantities.

TIAX has executed a laboratory-based development program aiming at the improvement of stationary fuelcell systems. The two-year long development program resulted in an improved understanding of staged fuelcells and inorganic proton conductors through evaluation of results from a number of laboratory tasks: (1) Development of a fuelcell modeling tool--Multi-scale model was developed, capable of analyzing the effects of materials and operating conditions; and this model allowed studying various ''what-if'' conditions for hypothetically staged fuelcells; (2) Study of new high temperature proton conductor--TIAX discovery of a new class of sulfonated inorganics capable of conducting protons when exposed to water; and study involved synthesis and conductivity measurements of novel compounds up to 140 C; (3) Electrochemical fuelcell measurements--the feasibility of staged fuelcells was tested in TIAX's fuelcell laboratories experimental design was based on results from modeling.

While a number of automotive fuelcell applications have been demonstrated, including a golf cart, buses, and a van, these systems and others that have been proposed have utilized differing configurations ranging from direct hydrogen fuelcell-only power plants to fuelcell/battery hybrids operating on reformed methanol. To date there is no clear consensus on which configuration, from among the possible combinations of fuelcell, peaking device, and fuel type, is the most likely to be successfully commercialized. System simplicity favors direct hydrogen fuelcell vehicles, but infrastructure is lacking. Infrastructure favors a system using a liquid fuel with a fuel processor, but system integration and performance issues remain. A number of studies have analyzed particular configurations on either a system or vehicle scale. The objective of this work is to estimate, within a consistent framework, fuel economies and ranges for a variety of configurations using flexible models with the goal of identifying the most promising configurations and the most important areas for further research and development.

A high temperature solid oxide fuelcell generator produces electrical power from oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel gases such as natural gas, or conditioned fuel gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, with oxidant gases, such as air or oxygen. This electrochemical reaction occurs in a plurality of electrically connected solid oxide fuelcells bundled and arrayed in a unitary modular fuelcell stack disposed in a compartment in the generator container. The use of a unitary modular fuelcell stack in a generator is similar in concept to that of a removable battery. The fuelcell stack is provided in a pre-assembled self-supporting configuration where the fuelcells are mounted to a common structural base having surrounding side walls defining a chamber. Associated generator equipment may also be mounted to the fuelcell stack configuration to be integral therewith, such as a fuel and oxidant supply and distribution systems, fuel reformation systems, fuelcell support systems, combustion, exhaust and spent fuel recirculation systems, and the like. The pre-assembled self-supporting fuelcell stack arrangement allows for easier assembly, installation, maintenance, better structural support and longer life of the fuelcells contained in the fuelcell stack. 8 figs.

A high temperature solid oxide fuelcell generator produces electrical power from oxidation of hydrocarbon fuel gases such as natural gas, or conditioned fuel gases, such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen, with oxidant gases, such as air or oxygen. This electrochemical reaction occurs in a plurality of electrically connected solid oxide fuelcells bundled and arrayed in a unitary modular fuelcell stack disposed in a compartment in the generator container. The use of a unitary modular fuelcell stack in a generator is similar in concept to that of a removable battery. The fuelcell stack is provided in a pre-assembled self-supporting configuration where the fuelcells are mounted to a common structural base having surrounding side walls defining a chamber. Associated generator equipment may also be mounted to the fuelcell stack configuration to be integral therewith, such as a fuel and oxidant supply and distribution systems, fuel reformation systems, fuelcell support systems, combustion, exhaust and spent fuel recirculation systems, and the like. The pre-assembled self-supporting fuelcell stack arrangement allows for easier assembly, installation, maintenance, better structural support and longer life of the fuelcells contained in the fuelcell stack.

The present invention is directed to a method for cleansing fuel processing effluent containing carbonaceous compounds and inorganic salts, the method comprising contacting the fuel processing effluent with an anode of a microbial fuel ell, the anode containing microbes thereon which oxidatively degrade one or more of the carbonaceous compounds while producing electrical energy from the oxidative degradation, and directing the produced electrical energy to drive an electrosorption mechanism that operates to reduce the concentration of one or more inorganic salts in the fuel processing effluent, wherein the anode is in electrical communication with a cathode of the microbial fuelcell. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for practicing the method.

Fuelcells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. Unlike batteries, fuelcells continuously generate electricity, as long as a source of fuel is supplied. Moreover, fuelcells do not burn fuel, making the process quiet, pollution-free and two to three times more efficient than combustion. Fuelcell systems can be a truly zero-emission source of electricity, if the hydrogen is produced from non-polluting sources. Global concerns about climate change, energy security, and air pollution are driving demand for fuelcell technology. More than 630 companies and laboratories in the United States are investing $1 billion a year in fuelcells or fuelcell component technologies. This report provides an overview of trends in the fuelcell industry and markets, including product shipments, market development, and corporate performance. It also provides snapshots of select fuelcell companies, including general business strategy and market focus, as well as, financial information for select publicly-traded companies.

Fuelcells are electrochemical devices that combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water, and heat. Unlike batteries, fuelcells continuously generate electricity, as long as a source of fuel is supplied. Moreover, fuelcells do not burn fuel, making the process quiet, pollution-free and two to three times more efficient than combustion. Fuelcell systems can be a truly zero-emission source of electricity, if the hydrogen is produced from non-polluting sources. Global concerns about climate change, energy security, and air pollution are driving demand for fuelcell technology. More than 630 companies and laboratories in the United States are investing $1 billion a year in fuelcells or fuelcell component technologies. This report provides an overview of trends in the fuelcell industry and markets, including product shipments, market development, and corporate performance. It also provides snapshots of select fuelcell companies, including general business strategy and market focus, as well as, financial information for select publicly-traded companies.

A connection for fuelcell assemblies is disclosed. The connection includes compliant members connected to individual fuelcells and a rigid member connected to the compliant members. Adjacent bundles or modules of fuelcells are connected together by mechanically joining their rigid members. The compliant/rigid connection permits construction of generator fuelcell stacks from basic modular groups of cells of any desired size. The connections can be made prior to installation of the fuelcells in a generator, thereby eliminating the need for in-situ completion of the connections. In addition to allowing pre-fabrication, the compliant/rigid connections also simplify removal and replacement of sections of a generator fuelcell stack.

In the past the vertically integrated electric utility industry has not utilized Distributed Generation (DG) because it was viewed as competition to central station power production. Gas utilities have been heavily and aggressively involved in the promotion of gas fired DG because for them it is additional load that may also balance the winter load. With deregulation and restructuring of the electricity industry DG is now viewed in a different light. For those utilities that have sold their generation assets DG can be a new retail service to provide to their customers. For those who are still vertically integrated, DG can be an asset management tool at the distribution level. DG can be utilized to defer capital investments involving line and substation upgrades. Coupled to this new interest in DG technologies and their performance characteristics are the associated interests in implementation issues. These range from the codes and standards requirements and hardware for interfacing to the grid as well as C{sup 3}-I (command, control, communication--intelligence) issues. The latter involves dispatching on-grid or customer sited resources, monitoring their performance and tracking the economic transactions. Another important aspect is the impact of DG resources (size, number and location) on service area dynamic behavior (power quality, reliability, stability, etc.). EPRI has ongoing programs addressing all these aspects of DG and the distribution grid. Since fuelcells can be viewed as electrochemical engines, and as with thermomechanical engines, there doesn't have to be a best fuelcell. Each engine can serve many markets and some will be better suited than others in a specific market segment (e.g. spark ignition in cars and turbines in planes). This paper will address the status of developing fuelcell technologies and their application to various market areas within the context of Distributed Generation.

A cooling assembly for fuelcells having a simplified construction whereby coolant is efficiently circulated through a conduit arranged in serpentine fashion in a channel within a member of such assembly. The channel is adapted to cradle a flexible, chemically inert, conformable conduit capable of manipulation into a variety of cooling patterns without crimping or otherwise restricting of coolant flow. The conduit, when assembled with the member, conforms into intimate contact with the member for good thermal conductivity. The conduit is non-corrodible and can be constructed as a single, manifold-free, continuous coolant passage means having only one inlet and one outlet.

A fuelcell of the present invention comprises a cathode and an anode, one or both of the anode and the cathode including a catalyst comprising a bundle of longitudinally aligned graphitic carbon nanotubes including a catalytically active transition metal incorporated longitudinally and atomically distributed throughout the graphitic carbon walls of said nanotubes. The nanotubes also include nitrogen atoms and/or ions chemically bonded to the graphitic carbon and to the transition metal. Preferably, the transition metal comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, and Cr.

A stack of polymer electrolyte fuelcells is formed from a plurality of unit cells where each unit cell includes fuelcell components defining a periphery and distributed along a common axis, where the fuelcell components include a polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode and a cathode contacting opposite sides of the membrane, and fuel and oxygen flow fields contacting the anode and the cathode, respectively, wherein the components define an annular region therethrough along the axis. A fuel distribution manifold within the annular region is connected to deliver fuel to the fuel flow field in each of the unit cells. The fuel distribution manifold is formed from a hydrophilic-like material to redistribute water produced by fuel and oxygen reacting at the cathode. In a particular embodiment, a single bolt through the annular region clamps the unit cells together. In another embodiment, separator plates between individual unit cells have an extended radial dimension to function as cooling fins for maintaining the operating temperature of the fuelcell stack.

This invention relates to a fuelcell vehicular power plant. Fuel for the fuel stack is supplied by a hydrocarbon (methanol) catalytic cracking reactor and CO shift reactor. A water electrolysis subsystem is associated with the stack. During low power operation part of the fuelcell power is used to electrolyze water with hydrogen and oxygen electrolysis products being stored in pressure vessels. During peak power intervals, viz, during acceleration or start-up, pure oxygen and pure hydrogen from the pressure vessel are supplied as the reaction gases to the cathodes and anodes in place of air and methanol reformate. This allows the fuelcell stack to be sized for normal low power/air operation but with a peak power capacity several times greater than that for normal operation.

This invention relates to a fuelcell vehicular power plant. Fuel for the fuel stack is supplied by a hydrocarbon (methanol) catalytic cracking reactor and CO shift reactor. A water electrolysis subsystem is associated with the stack. During low power operation part of the fuelcell power is used to electrolyze water with hydrogen and oxygen electrolysis products being stored in pressure vessels. During peak power intervals, viz, during acceleration or start-up, pure oxygen and pure hydrogen from the pressure vessel are supplied as the reaction gases to the cathodes and anodes in place of air and methanol reformate. This allows the fuelcell stack to be sized for normal low power/air operation but with a peak power capacity several times greater than that for normal operation. 2 figs.

Method and apparatus for cooling electrochemical fuelcell system components. Periodic reversal of the direction of flow of cooling fluid through a fuelcell stack provides greater uniformity and cell operational temperatures. Flow direction through a recirculating coolant fluid circuit is reversed through a two position valve, without requiring modulation of the pumping component.

The end plates (16) of a fuelcell stack (12) are formed of a thin membrane. Pressure plates (20) exert compressive load through insulation layers (22, 26) to the membrane. Electrical contact between the end plates (16) and electrodes (50, 58) is maintained without deleterious making and breaking of electrical contacts during thermal transients. The thin end plate (16) under compressive load will not distort with a temperature difference across its thickness. Pressure plate (20) experiences a low thermal transient because it is insulated from the cell. The impact on the end plate of any slight deflection created in the pressure plate by temperature difference is minimized by the resilient pressure pad, in the form of insulation, therebetween.

A fuelcell capable of utilizing a hydrocarbon such as methane as fuel and having an internal dual catalyst system within the anode zone, the dual catalyst system including an anode catalyst supporting and in heat conducting relationship with a reforming catalyst with heat for the reforming reaction being supplied by the reaction at the anode catalyst.

A fuelcell is described capable of utilizing a hydrocarbon such as methane as fuel and having an internal dual catalyst system within the anode zone, the dual catalyst system including an anode catalyst supporting and in heat conducting relationship with a reforming catalyst with heat for the reforming reaction being supplied by the reaction at the anode catalyst.

Reformed hydrocarbon and coal (syngas) fuels present an opportunity to integrate solid oxide fuelcells into the existing fuel infrastructure. However, these fuels often contain impurities or additives that may lead to cell degradation through sulfur poisoning or coking. Achieving high performance and sulfur tolerance in SOFCs operating on these fuels would simplify system balance of plant and sequestration of anode tail gas. NexTech Materials, Ltd., has developed a suite of materials and components (cells, seals, interconnects) designed for operation in sulfur-containing syngas fuels. These materials and component technologies have been integrated into an SOFC stack for testing on simulated propane, logistic fuel reformates and coal syngas. Details of the technical approach, cell and stack performance is reported.

Projects Photo of person at work in laboratory setting. NREL scientist tests a photoelectrochemical water-splitting system used for renewable hydrogen production. Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL NREL hydrogen and fuelcell research projects support the development and adoption of cost-effective, high-performance fuelcell systems and sustainable hydrogen technologies for transportation, stationary, and portable applications. Learn about our projects: Fuelcells Hydrogen production and delivery

FuelCell Membranes to Improve Power As part of its Sustainable Energy Program, Sandia National Laboratories works to find new ways to use fuelcell membranes to improve energy generation and storage. Work in this area explores elements of fuelcell membrane composition and behavior including synthesis of block copolymers for improved separation, cross-linked membranes for greater stability and resonance- stabilized ionic groups that are used in a number of other applications. While Sandia

FuelCell Technologies Market Report FuelCell Technologies Office November 2014 (This page intentionally left blank) Section title Unt utaerest in pos eum quo con et i Authors This report was compiled and written by Sandra Curtin and Jennifer Gangi of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute, Inc., in Washington, D.C. Acknowledgement The authors relied upon the hard work and valuable contributions of many men and women in government and in the fuelcell industry. The authors especially wish to

Sheraton Grand Phoenix, 340 N. 3 rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Rooms: Estrella (Main), Ahwatukee A and B (Breakouts) Organized by National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory Sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy FuelCell Technologies Office OBJECTIVE: The Alkaline Membrane FuelCell Workshop will share information and identify the current status and the research and development needs for Alkaline Membrane FuelCell (AMFC) technology. The goals, building on prior workshop

FUELCELL TECHNOLOGIES MARKET REPORT JUNE 2010 2008 FUELCELL TECHNOLOGIES MARKET REPORT i Authors This report was written primarily by Bill Vincent of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute in Washington, DC, with significant assistance from Jennifer Gangi, Sandra Curtin, and Elizabeth Delmont. Acknowledgments This report was the result of hard work and valuable contributions from government staff and the fuelcell industry. The authors especially wish to thank Sunita Satyapal, Nancy Garland,

Market Report 2014 (This page intentionally left blank) i FUELCELL TECHNOLOGIES MARKET REPORT 2014 Authors This report was compiled and written by Sandra Curtin and Jennifer Gangi of the FuelCell and Hydrogen Energy Association, in Washington, D.C. Acknowledgement The authors relied upon the hard work and valuable contributions of many men and women in government and in the fuelcell industry. The authors especially wish to thank Sunita Satyapal and the staff of the U.S. Department of

A method and an apparatus for making straight fuelcell tubes are disclosed. Extruded tubes comprising powders of fuelcell material and a solvent are dried by rotating the extruded tubes. The rotation process provides uniform circumferential drying which results in uniform linear shrinkage of the tubes. The resultant dried tubes are very straight, thereby eliminating subsequent straightening steps required with conventional processes. The method is particularly useful for forming inner air electrode tubes of solid oxide fuelcells.

Conference Call | Department of Energy Legislative Update: State and Regional Hydrogen and FuelCell Initiatives Conference Call Legislative Update: State and Regional Hydrogen and FuelCell Initiatives Conference Call Presentation by US FuelCell Council on legislative updates to state and regional hydrogen and fuelcell representatives usfcc_legislative_update.pdf (450.04 KB) More Documents & Publications U.S. FuelCell Council: The Voice of the FuelCell Industry Connecticut FuelCell

of Energy and Storage for FuelCells: Current Status Hydrogen Production and Storage for FuelCells: Current Status Presented at the Clean Energy States Alliance and U.S. Department of Energy Webinar: Hydrogen Production and Storage for FuelCells, February 2, 2011. infocallfeb11_lipman.pdf (0 B) More Documents & Publications FuelCells for Supermarkets: Cleaner Energy with FuelCell Combined Heat and Power Systems Financing FuelCells The Department of Energy Hydrogen and FuelCells

FuelCell Technologies Market Report 2013 FuelCell Technologies Market Report This report describes data compiled in 2014 on trends in the fuelcell industry for 2013 with some comparison to previous years. 2013 FuelCell Technologies Market Report (2.31 MB) More Documents & Publications State of the States: FuelCells in America 2015 State of the States: FuelCells in America 2014 Workshop on Gas Clean-Up for FuelCell Applications

Education » Careers in Hydrogen and FuelCells Careers in Hydrogen and FuelCells The resources below link to job boards and listings on fuelcell company websites. Fuelcell employment resources: FuelCells 2000 provides links to fuelcell job listings and career and educational resources. This site also includes articles about careers in the fuelcell industry. Energy careers and jobs: DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers resources for people interested in careers in

Recently there has been much interest in developing processes for producing liquid fuels from renewable resources. The most logical long term approach in terms of economics derives the carbohydrate substrate for fermentation from the hydrolysis of cellulosic crop and forest residues rather than from grains or other high grade food materials (1,2). Since the presence of lignin is the main barrier to the hydrolysis of cellulose from lignocellulosic materials, delignification processes developed by the wood pulping industry have been considered as possible prehydrolysis treatments. The delignification process under study in our laboratory is envisioned as a synthesis of two recently developed pulping processes. In the first step, called autohydrolysis, hot water is used directly to solubilize hemicellulose and to depolymerize lignin (3). Then, in a second step known as organosolv pulping (4), the autohydrolyzed material is extracted with aqueous alcohol. A s shown in Figure 1, this process can separate the original lignocellulosic material into three streams--hemicellulose in water, lignin in aqueous alcohol, and a cellulose pulp. Without further mechanical milling, delignified cellulose can be enzymatically hydrolyzed at 45-50 C to greater than 80% theoretical yield of glucose using fungal cellulases (5, 6). The resulting glucose syrup can then be fermented by yeast to produce ethanol or by selected bacteria to produce acetone and butanol or acetic and propionic acids (7). One objection to such a process, however, is the large energy input that is required. In order to extend our supplies of liquid fuels and chemicals, it is important that the use of fossil fuels in any lignocellulosic conversion process be minimized. The direct use of geothermal hot water in carrying out the autohydrolysis and extraction operations, therefore, seems especially attractive. On the one hand, it facilitates the conversion of non-food biomass to fuels and chemicals without wasting fossil

An interconnect that facilitates electrical connection and mechanical support with minimal mechanical stress for fuelcell stacks. The interconnects are flexible and provide mechanically robust fuelcell stacks with higher stack performance at lower cost. The flexible interconnects replace the prior rigid rib interconnects with flexible "fingers" or contact pads which will accommodate the imperfect flatness of the ceramic fuelcells. Also, the mechanical stress of stacked fuelcells will be smaller due to the flexibility of the fingers. The interconnects can be one-sided or double-sided.